A resistive touch screen is a touch-sensitive computer display that responds to applied pressure. It’s made from two resistive-coated transparent sheets separated by a small air gap.
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When contact is made with the surface of the touch screen, the two sheets are pressed together. Each sheet has horizontal and vertical conductive traces (also known as bus bars) that register the precise location of the touch, recognizing input from various objects such as fingers, stylus or palms. Resistive touch screens are considered a passive technology. This means they must have an internal power source and rely on electromagnetic energy transmitted from an RFID (radio-frequency identification) reader. Function: The top layer is a clear, flexible film made of polyester or a similar material. It is the outermost layer, which users physically interact with. Control: The top layer is responsible for detecting touch inputs. When pressure is applied, this layer deforms, causing it to make contact with the layer beneath. Function: Spacer dots, or an adhesive spacer, separate the top and bottom layers, maintaining a small air gap between them when there is no pressure applied. Control: The spacer ensures that the layers do not make contact when not pressed, preventing false touch signals. Function: The bottom layer is typically a rigid material such as glass or hard plastic. Control: The bottom layer carries a resistive coating that registers touch points when the top layer is pressed against it. The resistive coating divides the layer into rows and columns, forming a grid for precise location detection. Function: Both the top and bottom layers have a resistive coating, usually made of indium tin oxide (ITO). Control: The resistive coating is conductive and facilitates the measurement of changes in electrical current when the top layer makes contact with the bottom layer. This change in resistance helps determine the touch location. Function: Bus bars are conductive strips made of a transparent material, often positioned on the edges of the layers. Control: The bus bars help transmit electrical signals from the resistive coating to the touch controller, facilitating communication between the touch screen and the device’s controller. Function: The touch controller is an electronic component that processes the touch input signals and translates them into digital data. Control: The touch controller interprets the changes in resistance and converts them into X and Y coordinates, determining the precise location of the touch on the screen. It then sends this data to the device’s processor. There are two types of resistive touch screens: Digital A digital resistive touch screen operates through the application of pressure to the screen, and can be operated by the touch of a finger, stylus or even a fingernail onto the surface. This type of touch screen works on an X-Y matrix. Analog Analog touch screens respond to continuous and variable pressure. They are designed for pen recognition applications and can offer higher resolutions. Resistive touch screen technology tends to be more cost-effective compared with some other touch screen technologies, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious applications. Some applications where resistive touch screens are used are ATM machines, vending machines and home appliances. The design simplicity and versatility of resistive touch screens make them easy to integrate into a design. Resistive touch screens are compatible with a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Android and others. They typically use standard interfaces, such as USB or serial connections. Most resistive touch screens come with drivers that are readily available and supported by major operating systems. These factors make integration easy, fast and efficient. Resistive touch screens are pressure-sensitive, allowing them to register varying levels of pressure applied to the screen by virtually any point of contact. This feature is especially useful in applications where the user might be wearing gloves that would hinder pushing a mechanical button. Resistive touch screens offer a degree of resistance to dust, moisture and humidity, but their level of protection can vary based on the specific design and construction of the touch screen. Since resistive touch screens have a continuous top layer, any moisture or contaminants need to enter on the edge or around the screen. A bezel that overlaps the edge of the screen with a gasket using quality adhesives or sealant will ensure a good seal. This is especially important in dusty, wet or dirty environments. The flexible layers of resistive touch screens are subject to wear and tear over time, especially in high-use environments or when rough or sharp objects are used to actuate the screen. Continuous pressure on the screen can lead to degradation and reduced sensitivity over-time. The top layer of a resistive touch screen is typically made of a flexible clear film, which can be susceptible to scratches. This vulnerability can affect the clarity of the display and compromise the touch screen’s functionality. Once the screen is damaged, there are no good ways to repair it to full functionality without replacing the entire screen. The resistive touch screen is typically installed over a digital display panel. The presence of additional layers over the display may cause a reduction in contrast and brightness, affecting the overall visual experience. This limitation is more noticeable in outdoor settings where high visibility is crucial. Traditional resistive touch screens typically support only single-touch input. They do not have the capability to recognize multiple touch points simultaneously, limiting their functionality in applications that benefit from multi-touch gestures. Multi-touch is important for interactive whiteboards, gaming consoles, smartphones and laptops. Now that we know all about the resistive touch screen technology, let’s take a look at a popular alternative: Capacitive Touch Screens Capacitive touch screen panels share a visual resemblance with resistive touch screens. What sets them apart is their distinctive operation – they respond effortlessly to a gentle touch without requiring applied pressure. The mere touch of a finger induces a small current, creating a voltage drop that activates the screen. This unique mechanism not only ensures user comfort but also contributes to the screen’s longevity by minimizing physical stress. The structure of capacitive touch screens involves two layers of glass, allowing for superior resolution and the ability to detect multiple touches simultaneously. This multi-touch capability enhances the user experience, providing advanced functionalities for various applications. While the benefits of capacitive touch screens are evident, it’s worth noting that they typically come at a higher cost due to their intricate structure. However, the investment is often justified by the enhanced performance and durability they offer. Multitouch capacitive screens, like those found on smartphones, have the capability to detect multiple points of contact simultaneously. This ability is enabled by the design which includes an invisible grid system. Each intersection on the grid is able to individually detect a conductive material, such as a fingertip, allowing for a precise multitouch interaction. . The Bottom Line: For more information, please visit Touch-China. Understanding the subtle differences among touch screen technologies is crucial in determining the most suitable option for your needs. Whether you require a digital resistive, analog resistive or capacitive touch screen, RSP stands ready to provide optimal solutions. Our commitment extends to designing and producing each touch screen panel to meet our customers’ specific requirements. Additionally, we offer customized integration solutions for membrane switches, silicone rubber keypads and displays, as well as plastic and metal enclosures, ensuring a seamless and tailored experience for your company. To find out more about RSP’s high-quality custom touch screens and how they can help your business, contact us at 1-866-329-1804 or send us a message. Request A QuoteHow Do Resistive Touch Screens Work?
Components of a Resistive Touch Screen
Top Layer (Flexible Clear Film)
Spacer Dots or Adhesive Spacer
Bottom Layer (Glass or Hard Plastic)
Resistive Coating
Bus Bars (Conductive Strips)
Touch Controller
What Are the Different Types of Resistive Touch Screens?
What Are the Advantages of Resistive Touch Screens?
Very Cost-Effective
Easy to Integrate
Can Be Operated with Numerous Touch Signals
Resistant to Dust, Moisture and Humidity
What Are the Drawbacks of Resistive Touch Screens?
Can Be Prone to Damage
Limited Contrast
Does Not Support Multi-Touch
What Is a Capacitive Touch Screen?
Touchscreen displays have become a standard piece of technology in our daily lives. Many LCD and OLED applications now include touchscreen technology to improve functionality or enhance user experience.
However, there is not a universal touchscreen for every application. You'll need to decide which touchscreen is suitable for your project. Like deciding between OLED and LCD, choosing the right touch screen will depend on your application's requirements.
Related: Touch Panel Details and Integration Guide
A capacitive touchscreen panel is made of an insulator, usually glass, that is coated with a transparent conductor. Capacitive touchscreen displays respond to conductive inputs like a fingertip and don't require pressure to activate a "touch event."
Capacitive touch panels are the more modern and advanced touchscreen option because of their advanced capabilities. They are commonly found in consumer products like smartphones, tablets, appliances, and monitors.
Related: What's an IPS Display
A capacitive touchscreen detects and responds to changes in capacitance caused by the screen's electrostatic field when the screen's surface is touched.
Capacitive touchscreen diagramCapacitive touchscreen displays allow for touch gestures and respond to multi-touch inputs. You’ll typically be able to enter one to five touch inputs simultaneously, but some capacitive touchscreens can process even more.
Capacitive touchscreens deliver brighter, higher contrast images due to the makeup of their panels. Displays with capacitive touch screens are more durable than resistive touch screens because they are designed with cover glass on their top layer. In fact, all of our capacitive TFT displays have standard 0.7mm thick built-in cover glass and can be further customized for extra durability.
Related: LCD Cover Glass Impact Test
The cost of a capacitive touchscreen is slightly higher than a resistive touchscreen panel due to more complicated manufacturing processes.
While the cost is currently higher than resistive touchscreens, capacitive touchscreens are quickly becoming the industry standard in touchscreen technology.
The enhanced responsiveness can be a downside depending on how and where the display is used. For example, a capacitive touchscreen would not easily respond to the user while wearing certain types of gloves. Although capacitive touchscreens don’t respond to inorganic inputs, they can still be accidentally activated by other conductive elements. One of the the most common elements that causes interruptions is water.
Rain, humidity, and condensation on the surface of capacitive touchscreens will often cause accidental inputs and reduced accuracy until the water is removed. This is one of the main reasons why a resistive touchscreen would be chosen over a capacitive touchscreen in certain situations.
Related: LCD Screen Types
Any device that utilizes touch gestures like swiping, pinching, or multi-touch will require a capacitive touchscreen. These features often help make capacitive touchscreen displays more intuitive and user-friendly than resistive touchscreens. Capacitive touchscreens are best suited for applications requiring improved touch responsiveness with better image brightness and contrast.
Resistive touchscreen panels sense pressure on the display's top layer and send a signal to the circuit layer to activate the touchscreen functionality. Because they use pressure to activate the touch inputs, resistive touchscreen displays can be used with a stylus, gloves, and other items. Resistive touchscreens are built without cover glass and made of plastic, making them more susceptible to dents and scratches.
Resistive touch panels were the original touchscreen to enter the market and are still widely used.
Resistive touchscreens are made of two resistive coating layers with a gap or space layer between them. A "touch event" occurs when these two layers make contact with each other (closing the circuit) by the user's action of pressing into the soft, semi-flexible top layer. Each layer consists of horizontal and vertical lines (x,y matrix) that detects the exact location of the touch.
The gap or space layer typically consists of air or inert gas and some spacers whose only purpose is to separate the soft top layer from the bottom layer.
Resistive touchscreen diagramResistive touchscreens are often seen as the less advanced variety of touch panel compared to capacitive touch panels. However, being able to interact with non-organic inputs keeps these touchscreens relevant in specific industries.
Resistive touchscreen displays are less sensitive than capacitive touchscreen displays. This is considered an advantage in some cases and is why they’re chosen for specific applications. Resistive touchscreens will not respond to accidental inputs from the environment, so they won’t be interrupted by things like water spills or lightweight debris landing on the screen.
This type of touchscreen requires more intentional inputs from the user, making them more reliable in rugged and unstable environments. For example, a resistive touchscreen is the perfect solution on a construction site where water or debris might land on the screen. They’re also the best touchscreen display option for situations where the user is wearing gloves.
Resistive touchscreen panels are unfortunately more susceptible to dents and scratches. Their poor visibility in direct sunlight does not make them ideal for outdoor applications. Their inability to respond to multi-touch inputs can be a disadvantage in fast-paced applications requiring such. Because resistive touchscreens rely on the pressure applied to the top layer, they tend to be abused and mishandled, which makes them less durable over time than capacitive touchscreens.
Related: How to Clean an Electronic Display
Resistive touchscreen technology is ideal for low-cost applications involving rugged environments, indirect sunlight, and simple touch features. Fewer accidental touch inputs, better resistance to heat and moisture, and the ability to be operated with pretty much anything (stylus, pen, gloves, fingers, etc.) make this touchscreen technology a more reliable solution when user input is crucial.
While it’s clear that capacitive touchscreens are dominating the consumer electronics market, resistive touchscreens still have an advantage in some ways.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective touchscreen that can operate with simple tap inputs in rugged environments, resistive is the way to go. For more advanced and intuitive touchscreen technology with higher quality applications, choose capacitive touchscreens.
To learn more about touchscreen displays, or anything related to display technology, we’re always here to help! Get in touch with our engineers today.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Types of Resistive Screens.